District



Patented Nov. 18, 1924.

CHARLES H. STEPHENSON, OF WASHING-TON, DISILRIGT OF COLUMBIA, DEDICATED. BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS. TO THE CITIZENS 01? UNITED STATES.

PROCESS FOR THE REMOVAL OF MAGGD'IS, INSECTS. BEBRIES, TRASH, AND SIMILAR OBJECTS FROM BIIU'EBERRIES.

No Drawing.

Application fi led September 1?, 1924:.

Serial No. 738,314.

(FILED UNDER AGT OF MARCH 3, 1883, 22 STAT. In 625.)

To (.477 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. Cremnnns H. S'lTEPI-IEN- sort, a citizen of the United States of America. and an employee of the United States De iiartment of rigriculture. residing: at Vashington, District ot Columbia. have invented a new and useful Process for the removal of maggots. insects. green berries, trash. and similar objects from blueberries, of which the following; is a specification.

This application is made under the actof March 3. 1.883. chapter 143 (22 Stat. 625) and the invention herein described and claimed. may he used by the Government of the United States or any of its ofiicers or employees in the prosecution o'l. worlr for the Government. or any person in the United States. without payment to me of any royalty thereon.

The object ot my invention is to remove by skimming: the green and immature blueberries. bunches of berries insects and trash of such kinds as will float and thus eliminate htmd-pickin; of blueberries. A further obiect is to remove maggots from blueberries througl'i the application oi? heated water.

In carrying out my invention. I employ a tanlr which may be of any convenient size and of any number of compartments desired and may be constructed of any suitable material. The tank is preferably equipped with water-pipe and steam-pipe connections and with a valve at the bottom thereot for drainage purposes. The valve opening must be lar ie enough to permit oi quickly draining the tank and so placed. as to permit complete drainage ot the tank. The tank is provided with false bottom so constructed as to be quickly and easily removed. The false bottom is preferably n'iade of wire tour to six meshes to the inch. The tank is filled about twolhirds full of water which is heated by means of steam pipe to between 125 and 130 degrees F.

The blueberries are slowly dumped. into this tank sufficient in amount to bring, the

turbine of the? water no higher than. at the most two inches from the top ot the tank. Less may be used if desired. These berries are slowly stirred and left in the water for a period of approximately fifteen minutes. The surface may be skimmed oil with any suitable instrmnent to remove green berries, bunch berries and any trash. etc, floating at surface. The berries are slowly dipped out from this tank after the required time has elapsed. by means of a dip net of suitable size and of: from 4: to 6 meshes to the inch.

have found that maggots may be separated trom blueberries through the application or" water thereto, the water having been previously warmed to between 110 to 140 degrees F. and the blueberries kept in said heat-ed water for length of time of five minutes or more. This causes a large number of? the maggots to come out oi the herries. The maggots thus released and which settle to the bottom of the tank by means oi a suitable screen through which they are separated from the berries. may be removed.

When the blueberries are kept in the heated Water for a period of fifteen. minutes or more separation "From the blueberries oi" dirt. dust. green and immature berries, bunches of berries, insects and trash o'li suchv kinds as will float may be obtained from the surface oi? the water. by skimming.

The bath may be applied (1) in open tank into which the berries are dumped and slowly stirred by suitable device, the tank to be furnished with a suitable false bottom to allow the maggots to settle there, or (2) in a tank through which the berries are carried on a slowly moving; conveyor timed to give the required immersion, or (3) in a slowly revolving horizontal drum covercd with a screen oi such mesh as to allow the rele sed maggots to pass through while the berries are retainedon the inside, said drum to revolve partially submerged in a "tank of water.

I claim: v 1. A. process for the separation tromblue berries of dirt, dust, immature berries, inseats and trash of such kinds as Will float consisting in subjecting blueberries to a Water bath, the temperature of the Water being maintained at approximately 125 degrees F. for a period of approximately fifteen minutes.

2-. A process for the separation from blueberries of maggots and Worms consisting in subjecting the blueberries to a Water bath at a temperature between 110 and led) degrees F. for a period of approximately five minutes.

CHARLES H. STEPHEN-SON. 

